Have you finally decided it’s time to make a budget or at least get your some of your expenses under control? Well, one of the first questions you should have is how much should be allocated to each expense area. The best way to answer that question is to use what others are spending for each type of expense and build your budget from that starting point.

One of the most important building blocks for a sound financial future is to be prepared for the unexpected…and having an emergency fund is the key to being prepared financially. Many times emergency funds are derailed because we don’t have enough saved or we use them for non-emergency items.

There are countless reasons to save money, but saving for a home, your child’s education, and retirement are usually the largest and most daunting savings goals. They are also among the most important goals to save for – making it imperative that you begin saving now if you’re not already!

Your parents do a lot for you, so you may be asking yourself what you can do to help them out. As a member of your household, there are plenty of things you can do that will make a world of difference, not only for your family, but sometimes for the environment too.

Be sure to tell your parents about your changes. They will be very proud of you, and they may make some changes as well.

It's the end of April and spring is finally here – well, sort of. The weather may not be cooperating in the mid-west, but we doubt unpredictable weather will hinder planning your dream vacation for this spring or summer.

Vacations can be good and bad – they allow for a change of scenery, exploration, and relaxation. However, vacations can also break the bank, especially since a lot of Americans resort to using their credit cards to pay for them. It doesn’t have to be that way; there are a couple of easy things you can do to ensure you have the money for your getaway.

It’s not surprising that the convenience factor of online shopping has made it very popular among consumers. Although convenience plays a huge role in its popularity, there is something else to mention: your ability to compare prices of products. These things work in the favor of the value-conscious consumer. Let's dig a little deeper:

The Comfort from Reviews.
Even if you don't want to buy a product online, reading reviews can help. It’s really difficult to get information on something when you’re at the store. The odds of finding someone who has purchased the same thing are small. Fortunately, this is where online comparison shopping comes to the rescue. You can simply type in the name of the item into a search engine and see numerous reviews from people who actually have experience with the item.